Teaching in France changed my life!

I had studied abroad in Grenoble during college and when I left, I knew I had to go back after graduation no matter what. I fortunately found out about being an English Teaching Assistant just weeks before graduation, applied and was accepted about a month later to teach elementary school students in a small town outside of Lyon called Vienne. It was AMAZING!! I had no idea what I was doing at first as I had no teaching experience but I love kids. I was amazed how much I learned about myself and what I could do when I put my mind to it. I even created small quizzes for my students so they could see how much they'd learned as well. In addition to the challenges and benefits of teaching, I made life-long friends. The woman who was assigned to be my contact person in town is now my "French Mom" who I keep in touch with still, 10 years later, and who I know will be in my life forever. There were other assistants in the same town who I still talk to as well. One other American and I made a pact while there to only speak French together so that we could immerse ourselves as best as possible. We still only speak French together! While we didn't get paid all that much to teach there, the experience I had and the relationships I made are things I would never take back. It truly shaped me and made me into the person I am today!